title: Time trends and transplacental transfer of perfluorinated compounds in melon-headed whales stranded along the Japanese coast in 1982, 2001/2002, and 2006.
abstract: As a result of the phase-out of production of perfluorooctanesulfonyl-based compounds by a major producer, concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in marine mammals from North American and European coastal waters have been declining since the early 2000s. Nevertheless, temporal trends in perfluorochemical (PFC) concentrations in marine mammals from Asian coastal waters have not been examined. In this study, PFCs were determined in livers of melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) collected along the coast of Japan, from three mass strandings that occurred during the past 25 years. Concentrations of nine PFCs were determined in livers of 48 melon-headed whales that were collected during strandings in 1982, 2001/2002, and 2006. In addition, concentrations in liver tissues obtained from two pregnant females and their fetuses were compared for determination of transplacental transfer rates of PFCs during gestation. PFOS and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) were the predominant PFCs found in livers of melon-headed whales collected in 1982 (n = 22). PFOS, PFOSA, perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA), perfluorododecanoate (PFDoDA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) were found in whales collected in 2001/2002 (n = 21) and in 2006 (n = 5). Concentrations of PFOS and PFOSA were approximately 10-fold higher in 2001/2002 than in 1982. Whereas concentrations of PFOSA then declined by 2-fold from 2001/ 2002 to 2006, concentrations of PFOS and perfluorocarboxylates did not decline after 2001/2002. Conversely, concentrations of PFNA and PFDA increased significantly from 2001/2002 to 2006. The proportion of perfluoroalkylsulfonates in total PFC concentrations decreased from 75% in 1982 to 51% in 2006. Conversely, the contribution of perfluorocarboxylates to total PFC concentrations increased from 25% in 1982 to 49% in 2006. PFUnDA was the major perfluorocarboxylate found in whale livers collected after 2000. Analysis of paired samples of mother-fetus demonstrated that the transplacental transfer rates of PFCs were higher than those for PCBs and PBDEs.
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12201-0509, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Kurunthachalam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isobe
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Tadasu K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanabe
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D004289:Dolphins / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005843:Geography; D007564:Japan; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011247:Pregnancy; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid